Delaying or speeding up blooms?

[Queenbee]

I have only been growing orchids for a year or two so I have a lot to learn. My question involves a cattleya. It has plump sheaths with buds inside. Specifically, I was wondering if there is anything I can do to make the buds emerge and open by Valentine's Day? Change of water, light, temperature, anything? Conversely would it be possible to manipulate catts some way to slow down opening of buds/sheaths to coincide with a special holiday?

[raybark]

The initiation and development of buds, then flowering is a complex, and fairly long process. I really think that there may be a a greater possibility of influencing when the process may begin, than there is controlling how long it takes.

I suspect any changes made now that are sufficient to affect the development, are more likely to change aspects like size, color development, shape or longevity, rather than the rate at which the development occurs.

[tucker85]

I haven't found anything that influences the time it takes for buds to mature. I have found that when a cattleya is in bud, it's best not to make any changes to the care it's getting. Don't move it to a new location or change the amount of light or water it gets. Some cattleyas are sensitive to change and I've had buds even fail to bloom because I made changes. Once the buds are almost ready to open, you can move the plant anywhere you want and it won't hurt it.